TEARAWAY teenage triplets who caused a reign of chaos for shopkeepers walked free from court yesterday after magistrates imposed a two-year supervision order.

Thirteen-year-olds Shane, Natalie and Sarah Morris, from Gillingham, Kent, were found guilty earlier this month of breaching an anti-social behaviour order imposed on them a year ago.

Irate shopkeepers, who have had to put up with a tirade of abuse and threats from the trio and their friends, now say the youths will not see ASBOs as a deterrent and expect them to continue their troublemaking.

But police said they were delighted with the outcome and that if the siblings did restart their bad behaviour, it would be much easier for officers to take action.

Traders had begged magistrates in Chatham, Kent, to lock up the youngsters, who had made their lives miserable, but legal officials had said that "statutory limitations on sentencing powers" meant they could not be jailed.

Security guard Raymond Hogan, 24, who works at the Co-op in Gillingham, said the triplets tried to "kick his head in" while he was grappling with a shoplifter. The incident resulted in the teenagers breaching their ASBO and sentence.

"They've tried the goody-goody route and it's ineffective," he said. "We now have to show the kids there is something at the end of the tunnel that they will not like. They know now the ASBOs are no threat to their way of life and they will just laugh at them.

"Now there is fear among the shopkeepers of what is going to happen next as other kids will just go out and do the same."

Tim Woodlock, owner of Bikes Bikes Bikes in Gillingham High Street, added, "I'm disgusted that they will be allowed to go back on the streets and carry on where they left off.

"This is just a sign to all the other kids that they can do what they like and get away with it. The only answer is to remove them from society."

But Superintendent Giles York, area commander for Medway, said he was delighted with the sentence as it would allow officers to act quickly if the triplets stepped out of line again.

"I'm really pleased with the result from the court this morning as it clearly shows them using their powers with some very sensible criminal justice procedures to show these troublemakers that their behaviour is completely unacceptable to the residents of Medway," he said.

"The fact they are subject to anti-social behaviour orders means we have been able to invoke criminal justice processes against them that otherwise would have been unavailable for this type of offence."

The triplets, all wearing tracksuits and appearing with their mother, Shirley, who is subject to a parenting order, have been receiving one-to-one tuition since earlier this year.

Ann Echlin, magistrate, said, "It is clear to us that when you have too much time on your hands, with nothing particular to do, then you start behaving badly.

"We are worried that the improvements, which have begun, will not continue without long-term supervision. We feel it is imperative that some supervision continues until proper full-time education provision is provided to address the specific needs of each of you."

The court heard the triplets abused shop staff, made rude gestures, kicked the door, then threatened to put a petrol bomb into the home of a security guard. Mrs Morris was ordered to pay &#xA3;15 costs.